MSU (5-4 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) hosts No. 21 Nebraska (6-2, 3-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in a game that would push the Spartans into bowl eligibility and keep MSU’s slim hopes of winning its division afloat.

“We always put a focus on finishing,” junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell said of MSU’s final three games. “(Head strength and conditioning coach Ken Mannie) always says, ‘Start fast, finish strong.’ It’s a habit we form in workouts, practice and games. It’s only natural when a season comes down to the end; you’re used to finishing strong, you have no choice but to finish strong.”

But before the Spartans can do that, they’ll have to shut down the Big Ten’s most prolific rushing attack, which has averaged 264.1 yards on the ground per game. Historically, the Cornhuskers have had one of the nation’s best running games, something MSU head coach Mark Dantonio touched on in his Tuesday press conference.

“They had such a systematic approach to how they practiced,” he said. “It was so built around the G option, some of the things they were doing, players they had at the quarterback position, which created run pass conflicts for a lot of different people, I think they just sort of manufactured it.

“My wife used to call it the Big Red Machine every time we went up there to play.”

Last season, Nebraska rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-3 win over the Spartans in Lincoln, Neb.

On defense, the Huskers are anchored by linebacker Will Compton, who has recorded 62 tackles and three sacks in eight games this season.

However, Maxwell said he hopes the Huskers’ tendency toward man coverage would pull the “blackshirts” off him, allowing him to make some plays with his legs, in addition to through the air.

Junior running back Le’Veon Bell said the Spartans will need to have a more balanced attack against Nebraska if they want to have a chance against the vaunted Husker defense.

“I really felt like the offense is starting to click, and we’re starting to work together and mesh, so it’s going to be good for the end of the season,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t get one-dimensional, so we can’t get down early in the game (and) force Maxwell to throw the ball 40 times … We want to make sure we’re in the game, have a lead if that’s possible and stay balanced on offense.”

He added the Spartans will have to come out of the locker room more aggressive than they did at the beginning of last year’s loss to Nebraska.

“Last year, Nebraska came out, they played hard and aggressive and they were physical from the beginning of the game,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re that way this year and don’t let them come like that again and just manhandle us like they did last year.”